Gas meter mounting bracket



April 18, 1967 w B MCDOWELL GAS METER MOUNTING BRACKET 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 6, 1963 K {k M w w Fw1|m1lwp vkwisll kbl w h alg W w l l l l ll ILM 4 F FIG. I

JNVENTOR. WILLIAM B. M9 DOWELL FIG. 7 FIG. IO

April 18, 1967 w B MCDOWELL Re. 26,191

GAS METER MOUNTING BRACKET Original Filed Nov. 1963 4 SheetsSheet 3 W/ L INVENTOR. AM WILLIAM B. MDOWELL l April 18, 1967 w B, MCDOWELL R6. 26,191

GAS METER MOUNTING BRACKET In-Urinal F'fled Nov. H, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet I,

INVENTOR. WILLIAM 8. M DOWELL ray/Zr a/ April 18, w B MCDOWELL Re.

GAS METER MOUNTING BRACKET Original Filed Nov. (3, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WILLIAM B. MCDOWELL United States Patent 26 191 GAS METER MOUNTING BRACKET William B. McDowell, Fenton, Micb., assignor to Michigan Tube Benders, Inc., Ann Arbor, Micl1., a corporation of Michigan Original No. 3,208,704, dated Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 321,780, Nov. 6, 1963. Application for reissue Sept. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 586,909

8 Claims. (Cl. 248-68) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the original patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to mountings for meters and more particularly to a mounting bracket for mounting a gas meter on the outside of a building.

It has been found desirable to place gas meters outside, rather than inside, buildings to which gas is piped, particularly residences, so as to eliminate the necessity of gaining entrance to the building for the purpose of reading or rotating the meter or repairing the installation. Heretofore, gas meter mounting means adapted for connection to a wooden building structure was not adapted for connection to a concrete or cement block building structure. Further, conventional gas meter mounting means permitted the connection and disconnection of meter thereto only with considerable dilliculty. Still further, each conventional form of gas meter mounting was adapted for employment with but a single or very few makes and models of gas meters, and could not be used with any other makes or models without substantial modification.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved gas meter mounting bracket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gas meter mounting bracket adapted for connection to either or both the wooden structure or the cement or concrete block structure of a building.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gas meter mounting bracket adapted to facilitate connection and disconnection of several conventional makes and models of gas meters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas meter mounting bracket adapted for vertical, longitudinal adjustment.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a gas meter mounting bracket adapted to support a gas meter with a gas meter by-pass operatively associated therewith.

The above and other objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a meter mount.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a meter mount.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of a meter mount.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a foundation bracket.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a foundation bracket.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of a gas meter inlet pipe.

FIGURE 7 is a front view of a gas meter inlet pipe.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a gas meter inlet pipe.

Re. 26,19 1 Reissued Apr. 18, 1967 FIGURE 9 is a side view of a gas meter outlet pipe.

FIGURE 10 is a front view of a gas meter outlet pipe.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a gas meter outlet pipe.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of an assembled gas meter mounting bracket mounted on the outside of a building.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of an operatively connected conventional gas meter supported by a gas meter mounting bracket mounted on the outside of a building.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of a modified form of a gas meter inlet pipe.

FIGURE 15 is a modified form of a gas meter outlet pipe.

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of a modified form of gas meter mounting bracket supporting a gas meter with a portion of a by-pass T assembly operatively connected thereto.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, generally indicated at 20 is a meter mount, best shown in FIGURES l, 2, and 3, formed from a vertically arranged channel member 22 of fourteen gauge sheet iron or aluminum formed to a 2.25 inch by 1.125 inch by 1.125 inch outside diameter channel approximately 22.5 inches in length. Four Unistrut channel members are butt welded to the external sides of the flanges of channel member 22 to form a pair of parallel, horizontal upper and lower cross arms 24 and 26 vertically spaced four and one-quarter inches apart, the upper cross member being spaced about seven inches below the top of channel member 22. A pair of slotted arertures 28 are provided in the Web portion of channel member 22 and vertically spaced eight and one-quarter inches apart to adapt them for registration with the horizontal joints between rows in a vertical array of standard eight inch cement blocks, or of standard bricks, forming a vertical wall, the center of the upper of said apertures being spaced about one and one-quarter inches from the top of channel member 22. Two pairs of parallel five-sixteenth inch holes 30 are drilled transversely through the flanges of member 22 near the lower end thereof, one of said pairs being vertically spaced two inches above the other. End clips 32, formed of sheet iron or aluminum of approximately one-sixteenth inch thickness are welded across each end of cross arms 24 and 26, and across the upper end of channel member 22. respectively, and are each centrally drilled to threadably receive a three-sixteenth inch by one-half inch aluminum right hand self-threading screw. such a screw and washer assembly 34 being conventionally inserted in those end clips attached to the upper end of channel member 22 and lower cross arm 24.

A pair of Unistrut pipe clamps 36 and 38. adapted to clamp about a three-quarter inch pipe. are connected to cross arms 24 and 26 in the conventional manner near the left hand ends of the assembly (facing same as in FIGURE 1), and a second pair of Unistrut pipe clamps 40 and 42, adapted to clamp about a one inch pire. are similarly connected to the cross arms, respectively, near the right hand ends thereof.

A foundation bracket 44 is formed from two inch by one inch by one-eighth inch channel iron or aluminum approximately forty inches long and smoothly and symmetrically oifset one and one-half inches from a point 14.5 inches from the lower end thereto to a point 17.5 inches from the lower end thereof. A plurality of livesixteenth inch holes 46 are drilled transversely through the flanges of the upper portion of bracket 44 in parallel, vertically spaced pairs two inches apart, arranged for registration with holes 30 of channel 22 and to receive. respectively, bolt and nut combinations 48 therethrough. A plurality of slotted apertures 50. similar to apertures 46, are provided in the web of the lower portion of bracket 44. spaced similarly to apertures 46 and for the same purpose. If meter mount and bracket 44 are formed of iron or other corrosive material, they are then hot dip galvanized to prevent corrosion.

A gas meter inlet pipe 52 is then formed from threequarter inch steel pipe having a 0.113 inch minimum wall thickness by offsetting such 1.25 inches from a point 2.50 inches from the lower end thereof to a point 3.0 inches from the lower end thereof, and forming a 180 bend about a radius 3125 inches at the upper end thereof within a plane forming an angle of 17 inwardly from the longitudinal plane in which the offset position lies (i.e.. to the right as viewed from a position facing the front of the assembly), so that the curved end projects downward L50 inches below an imaginary line passing horizontally through said radius. as best shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8. A gas meter outlet pipe 54 is formed from one inch or, for some installations, one and one-quarter inch seamless steel pipe having a minimum wall thickness of 0.l33 inch smoothly and symmetrically swaged to a diameter of three'quarters inch from a point 15.5 inches above the lower end thereof to a point 16.5 inches above the lower end thereof. Outlet pipe 54 is offset, provided with a 180 bend at its upper end, and the bend inclined inwardly 17 so as to be symmetrical with inlet pipe 48. The inward l7 plane of the 180 turn in outlet pipe 54, however, is to the left as viewed from a position facing the front. of the assembly. The ends of inlet pipe 52 and outlet pipe 54 are then provided with conventional threads to adapt them for connection to conventional gas meters and gas lines.

To assemble the gas meter mounting bracket, channel member 22 of meter mount 20 is slipping downwardly upon and embracing the upper portion of foundation bracket 44 until holes are aligned with the desired pairs of holes 46 in the bracket, in which position they are secured by nut and bolt combinations 48. It will be noted that meter mount 20 may be slid-ably adjusted upward or downward upon foundation bracket 44 for a distance of up to 18.0 inches when nut and bolt combinations 48 are positioned through selected holes 46 in order to move channel member 22 to a desired height and thereby mov' ing the gas meter as desired.

The lower portion of foundation bracket 44 is then firmly attached to the concrete, brick, or cement block foundation 56 of the building by insertion of expansion bolts 58 or self-drilling snapptf concrete anchors and bolts through holes 50 and into the concrete wall or the mortar joints between the blocks or brick. A Ramset may also be used for the same purpose. The upper portion of bracket 44 and meter mount 20, then rest flush against the side of the building, the offset portion of bracket 44 accommodating the conventional overhand of foundation 56 by the siding.

Inlet pipe 52 and outlet pipe 54 are then clamped se curely within pipe clamps 36 and 38, and 40 and 42 re spectively.

When thus assembled and emplaced, the gas meter mounting bracket is prepared to operatively support a conventional gas meter 60, by conventional couplings 62. 62, as best shown in FIGURE 13. The bracket is of sufficient strength to safely prevent undue strain on the meter installation resulting from settling of the service line. while enabling the meter to he installed, rotated, or repaired with facility and dispatch.

Where it is desired to mount a gas meter on the side of a building which overhangs the foundation a distance substantially in excess of the one and one-half inch otl set of bracket 44, or where the foundation is of rock or remains to be bricked, meter mount 20 may be used alone, without the bracket, and be aflixed to the side of the building by explosion bolts, anchors and bolts or screws.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIG- URES l4, l5, and 16, and includes an inlet pipe 64 and an outlet pipe 66 having bends, shown at 68 and 70, respectively, rather than bends, in the upper ends thereof, as shown to adapt said upper ends for threadable. connection with the T portions 72, 72 of a conventional by-pass T assembly which, in turn, connect with the :onventional inlet and outlet of a conventional gas meter 74 and provide gas by-pass means therefor.

it is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that resort may be had to various changes in construction without departing from the scope of the subjoincd claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Gas meter mounting means comprising a vertical channel upright, four channel members extending laterally and symmetrically in pairs from the external sides of the flanges of said vertical channel upright to form a pair of spaced, parallel upper and lower cross arms with their respective channels facing horizontally, a gas meter inlet pipe and a gas meter outlet pipe, each having a forwardly offset lower portion and an upper portion provided with a forward curvature of at least 90 of arc, adapted for operative connection to the gas inlet and gas outlet, respectively of a gas meter, and pipe clamps slidably mounted at the outer ends of said crossarms, respectively, to support said gas inlet pipe and gas outlet pipe in spaced, parallel, vertical arrangement with said gas meter supported therebetween.

2. Gas meter mounting means comprising an elongated, offset, vertically arranged channel iron having at least two pairs of apertures in the flanges of the upper portion thereof to form a foundation bracket, an elongated, vertical channel upright having at least two pairs of apertures in the flanges of the lower portion thereof arranged for alignment with said apertures in said foundation bracket, means extending through said apertures for rigidly interconnecting said foundation bracket and vertical channel member when said apertures are in alignment, four channel members extending laterally and symetrically in pairs from the external sides of the flanges of said vertical channel member to form a pair of spaced, parallel upper and lower crossarms with their respective channels facing horizontally, a gas meter inlet pipe and a gas meter out let pipe each having a forwardly offset lower portion and an upper portion provided with a forward curvature of at least 90 of are, adapted for operative connection to the gas inlet and gas outlet, respectively, of a gas meter, and pipe clamps slidably mounted at the outer ends of said crossarms, respectively, to support said gas inlet pipe and gas outlet pipe in spaced, parallel, vertical arrangement with said gas meter supported therebetween.

3. Gas meter mounting means comprising a bracket having an elongated, recessed central portion defined by lateral portions, extension portions extending from said lateral portions in opposite directions from each other and away from said central portion, and pipe clamp re calving means defined in each of said extension portions spaced from said central portion.

4. In a gas meter mourning bracket as in claim 3 wherein said central portion is of a channel transverse cross section and said lateral portions constitute the flange portions of the channel CI'OSS section.

5. In (1 gas meter mourning bracket as in claim 4 wherein mid pipe (lamp receiving means constitute elon gated .rlotr defined in said extension portions, .rru'rl slots having a longitudinal length disposed .vuhvunnfnllv perpcnrlir-ulurly to {he length of said recvssr'zl ('rltlrnl portion.

6. A gar meter mounting bracket comprising u vertical channel upright having a pair of flanges defined by a terminating edge, at least one pipe clamp supporting member extending from each flange, said supporting members extending away from each other and from said upright, and an elongated pipe clamp receiving slot defined in each of said supporting members.

7. In a gas meter mounting bracket as in claim 6 wherein two of said pipe clamp supporting members extend front each of said flanges, said supporting members being arranged symmetrically relative to said upright and perpendicularly disposed thereto whereby said members define crossarms upon said upright.

8. In a gas meter mounting bracket as in claim 6 wherein said supporting members are of a channel transverse cross section including flanges and a base portion, said supporting member base portions being disposed in substantially the same plane as said upright flange terminating edge and said support member flanges extending in the direction of the plane of the upright base portion, said clamp receiving slot being defined in each said supporting member base portion.

References Cited by the Examiner The following references, cited by the Examiner, are of record in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,097,273 5/1914 Tyler 24868 X 1,356,040 10/1920 Caskey 248-68 X 1,537,772 5/1925 Hitzler 248-229 X 1,801,993 4/1931 Beckwith 24868 1,816,984 8/1931 Miller 24849 2,179,406 11/1939 Fritzpatrick 248-68 2,535,427 12/1950 Kindorf 24S68 2,701,928 2/1955 Keenan er. a1 248-22] X 2,984,440 5/1961 Simons 24828 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

